Multicolor-printing.



Patented Nov. 2|, i899.

6 Sheeis-Sheet l.

42u ATTORNEY/4 E. HETT.

MULTICDLOR PRINTING.

(Application led Nov. 1, 1899.)

Tur. sums um cn.. wam-umm wnsmuarcm n. c.

(No Model.)

WlTN ESSES:

No. 637,558. Patented Nov. 2|, |899. E. HETT.

MULTICOLOR PRINTING.

(Application led Nov. 1, 1899.)

6 Sheets Sheet (No Model.)

WITNESS'ES:

No. 637,558. Patented Nov. 2|, |899. E. HETT.

MULTICOLOR PRINTING.

(Applimion mea No'v. 1, 1899:)

6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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sw www @da ATTORNEYA mal) No. 637,558. Patented Nov. 2|, |399.

E. HETT.

MULTIGOLOR PRINTING.

(Application filed Nov. 1, 1899.)

(No Model.) y GSheets-Sheet 4.

IIIIYIII MA ATTORNEYA me Nunms PETERS co. PHoraLn'Nn.. vmswmcrcm. D. c

N0. 637,558. Patented Nov. 2|, |899.

, E. HETT.

MULTICDLUB PRINTING.

(Application med Nov. 1, w99.;

(No ModeL') 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

WITNESSES:

/fwa ATTORNEY/x 'me wams mens co. vnaoumo.. wAsHmaTou, D. c.

N0. 637,558. IPatented Nov. 21,1899.

E. HETT.

MULTIGOLR PRINTING.

y (Application filed Nov. 1, 1899.)

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UNITED STATES "PATENT l 102@ ERICE.

EDWARD HETT, oF Nuw YORK, N. Y.

MULTICOLOR-PRINTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.637,558, dated November 21, 1899.

Application filed November 1, 1899 Serial No. 735,447. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern-L' Be it known that I, EDWARD HETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (New Dorp, Staten Island,) in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multicolor-Printingg and I do hereby de.

Clare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to'make and use the same.

This invention relates to multicolor-printing; and it consists of a new method whereby -the printing may be effected.

dure. The second division relates to the care- I ful imposition upon thefinished printingforms of the component designs to be finally printed in accurate register. In this second division the printing-forms are mounted in accurately established and predetermined p0- sitions with reference to a coperating basic surface ora succession of such basic surfaces, prestablished guides or fixed guiding means being employed to secure immediate substantial accuracy in attaining the required working'relationship of a basic .surface and its coacting printing-form and of the succession of basic surfaces and their coacting'printingforms,whereby the component designs are imparted to or imposed upon the printing-forms to transformthem into printing-surfaces which are adapted to automatically register when mounted in a printing-press in which. the third division of procedure is carried out. In carrying out the second division of procedure suitable mechanism, such as a transfer-press, is employed. The printingforms and the basic surfaces are made of predetermined size and shape, so as to accurately fit their accurately made and predetermined seats in the transfer-press, and the printingforms, the transfer-press, and the printingpress are so constructed with reference to each vother that the printing-forms when removed color-printing.

y sign is imposed thereon.

from the transfer-press and mounted in the printi ng-press fit accurately in predetermined places provided to receive them in such printing-press, their position in the printing-press being attained at once and with accuracy by the employment of fixed guides. Thus the printing-surfaces are so made as to be registering prinyting-surfaces adapted to automatically register in the printing-press and Withvout the trial adjustments heretofore necessary in attaining accurate register in multi- This arrangingof the printing-forms accurately in their predetermined places in the press and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other and printing therefrom constitute the third division of procedure.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which like referencenumerals designate corresponding parts, embodiments of the various instrumentalities are illustrated which are preferably employed in carrying out the method.

My improved method may be carried out by means of'any other suitable instrumentalities; but I prefer for this purpose to use those shown in the drawings herein.

Referring now to the drawings shown herein, Figure I is a side elevation of a printingform partly broken away and before the de- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of part of the printing-form, and Fig. 4 Ais a central sectional elevation of an electrolytic-bath apparatus employed in making the said style of printing-form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 5 is a central sectional elevation of a transfer-press employed in imposing uponor imparting to the printing-form the design to be printed thereby and by aid of which transfer-press the printing-form is transformed into a printing-surface for the design so imparted. Fig. G is a plan view of the bed 0f the transfer-press and showing the setting-u p plate mounted thereon. Fig. 7 is adiagrammatic view, in sectional elevation, showing a machine which may be advantageously employed in imposing the design to be printed upon a printing-form. Fig. 8 isa side elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a printin g-press in which the printing-surfaces it in the press.

able means a series of printing-forms of pre-l determined size and shape to adapt them to accurately fit in prestablished seats in a printing-press and to fit and work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printingpress. Each printing-form I provide, in any suitable manner and by any suitable means, with a surface suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design.

I will now proceed to describe my preferred construction of printing-form and my preferred mode of preparing the same; but I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to such preferred construction and mode, as any other suitable construction or mode may be employed. For example, it is not necessary to an embodiment of my invention in all its broad aspects that the printing-forms be hollow, or be composed of bases and form-supports, or thatthe exteriorsurface of the printing-form be a separate and distinct part or coating of the printing-form itself, or be a coating at all, or when it is a coating that it be an electrodeposited one.

The construction of printing-form and the mode of preparing the same which I prefer to use will now be described. This printingform and the method of making it are of my invention and are made the subjects of separate applications filed by me simultaneously herewith.

In constructing my printing-form it is important that it be made of predetermined size and shape, so as to iit accurately the coperating parts of the press in connection with which it works. This is accomplished by providing a base of accurate predetermined size and shape and applying thereto a coating suitable to receive a design or a plurality of designs and to be developed into a printingsurface therefor. By means of such a base I am enabled to obtain a composite printingform consisting of the base and the coating applied thereto of accurate predetermined size and shape, so as to accurately iit and workin the predetermined place provided for If the coating is quite thin, as it may be in some cases, it may be disregarded in attaining the required size of printing-form, reliance being placed entirely upon the size of the base in obtaining the predetermined size of the printing-form. If, however, as preferred, the coating is of substantial thickness, so as to substantially affect the size of the printing-form, then attention must be paid to the thickness of the coating, which will be necessarily predetermined in obtaining the predetermined size of the printing-form. The coating is adherent to and integral with the base, and it is quite possible, and in securing certain advantages of the invention it is quite important, to so apply the coating to the base that the coating may be removed from and renewed on the base, the printing-form with each new coating being made, nevertheless, of predetermined. size andl shape. In accomplishing this result I employ a base of permanent predetermined size and shape, this permanency of the base persisting throughout the removals and renewals of the coating and, either alone or in connection with the predetermined thickness of the coating, effecting the predetermined size of the composite printing-form. In removing and renewing the coating it is not always essential that the absolute size of the printing-form be maintained, although the same base be used. The absolute size of the printing-form would of course vary in consequence of varying requirements of different cases-that is to say, if the requirements of a particular place in the press and the particular relation of the cooperating parts of the press called for a certain size of printingform the printing-form would be made of predetermined size and shape, so as to fulfil these requirements, although in so making it the same base might have been previously used for a printing-form of a different absolute, though predetermined, size and shape. Notwithstanding these possible variations in the absolute size of the printing-form, the size thereof will in every case be predetermined,so as to meet the particular requirements of each case. This is accomplished by applying to the permanent base coatings of varying, but predetermined, thicknesses. The printingform is preferably made of metal, consisting of a metallic base with a metallic coating applied thereto by electrodeposition. At present zinc is the most suitable metal of which to form the coating. In the best construction of printing-form I provide a curved shell-like base, preferably a continuous cylindrical tube accurately finished on its interior and IOO IIO

having a predetermined and permanentlymaintained internal size and shape, so as to adapt it to fit removably and replaceably on a rotary support, always accurately in the same place. It will be found advantageous in most cases, moreover, to employ printing-forms of permanently-maintained absolute size and shape, especially where the coating is to be removed from and renewed on a base, because such printing-forms of permanently-maintained size and shape can be the more readily and speedily made and with accuracy and certainty of result. This follows from the fact that standard and permanently-maintained conditions of applying the coating to a base of permanent predetermined size and shape may be employed.

In Figs. 1 and 2 is shown the composite printing-form, comprising the base l andthe electrodcposited coating 2, the base being shown in said figures as a continuous cylindrical tube and the coating as continuous and seamless thereon.

and facility of manipulationA the printingform is generally a shell and is provided with a support, from which it is removable. The tubular printing-form (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) has a cylindrical support 3, and the former has a slight interior taper and the latter a corresponding exterior taper, so that lthe printing-form may be easily removed from its support, which contacts with and firmly supports every point of the internal periphery of the printing-form. In order that the printingform may be readily mounted always exactly in its predetermined position on its support 3, suitable guiding means for this purpose are provided, which insure absolute identity and accuracy of position at all times, -both longitudinally and circumferentially. The guiding means for circumferential or transverse location (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) consists of two opposite longitudinal grooves 4 and 5, accurately cut on the exterior surface of the support 3, and corresponding ribs 6 and 7,'

formed on the interior of the printing-form and adapted to slide and accurately fit in these grooves, a marked rib of the form in a marked groove of the support. For the purpose of insuring indentit-y and accuracy in the longitudinal position of the printing-form on its support, the supportis provided with a collar 8, screwed on one end of the support to form a fixed abutment, against which one end of the printing-forni accurately fits when in place on its support. The printing-form is locked in place against any accidental longitudinal movement by the clamps 9 and screws 10 on the opposite end of the support. The support 3 is generally provided at the end on which the collar 8 is fixed with a screw 11, extending through a nut 12, adaptedto travel to and fro on the screw and arranged to start the printing-form from its seat by the rotation of the screw. If desired, the support 3 may be so constructed as to be removable from its shaft 13, and, if required, the printing-form may be fixed permanently on the form-support, and the latter and its shaft provided with guiding means whereby the removable'form-support may be accurately located longitudinally and circumferentially in a predetermined position on the shaft; but the former arrangement is preferred. The base 1, before it has received its coating 2, is made of an accurate predetermined shape and size and with reference to the size of the coinplete printing-form required. In this permanent shaping 'and sizing of the base the utmost possible delicacy and refinement of machine work and finish should be used to produce the best results, because it is this shaping and sizing of the base which gives shape and size to the ultimate printing-form, and the expense of the same is permissible because the shape of the base persists permanently thereafter throughout the entire life of the printing-form. The coating should be so manageable in its application that its thickness may be accurately predetermined in order that the composite printing-forinconsist` ing of the base and applied coating may'have an accmately-predetermined total diameter calculated with reference to the exact workin g position provided for in the printing-press and in the transfer-press or other mechanism to be subsequently employed in imposing upon the printing-forni the design to be printed.

This invention provides a method of manipulation whereby a coating of predetermined thickness may be applied to the base in the manner and for the purpose stated.

An apparatus for this purpose is shown in Fig. 4 and will now be describe-d.

14 is a containing vessel for the electrolyte. Passing through stuffing-boxes in the opposite ends are the shafts 15 and 16, carrying the insulating-heads 17 and 18, respectively. These heads are provided with metallic spring-plates 19, whereby the heads may be centered in the ends of the tubular printingform 1 in a firm metallic contact. The shafts 15 and 16 are adapted to support the printting-forni in the electrolyte, the shaft 15 carrying a bevel-gear 20, driven by the wormshaft 2l and geared with the shaft 16 by the shaft 21a, which carries a gear 22, meshing with the gear 22L on gear 20, and also a gear 23, meshing with the gear 24 on the outer end of the shaft 16. Thus the printing-form may be rotated during the deposition of its metallic coating. Alined with the shaft 15is the screw -shaft 25, arranged for longitudinal movement and operated by the hand-wheel 26, free to turn thereon. The inner end of this screw-shaft 25 carries a head2?, adapted to enter the outer end of the shaft 15 and held loosely therein by the collar 28, loose on the shaft 25 and adapted to screw on the outer end of the shaft 15. When the shaft 25 is thus connected with the shaft 15,`the latter may be moved longitudinally, so as to bring its head 17 into and out of engagement with the printing-form by rotating the handwheel 26, the shaft 15 moving through its stuffing-box and the gear 20, which is keyed for longitudinal movement on the shaft 15 and which is held from lateral displacement by the worm-shaft 21. The shaft 16 is similarly provided with a screw and accompanying devices. The shaftsl and 16 are provided with brushes 29 and 30, connected to one pole of a suitable generator, insulated wires 31 and 32 connecting the contact-springs 19 with collars on which the brushes bear. The printing-form constitutes the cathode, and plates 33, consisting of the metal to be deposited, form the anodes. These plates are supported one each side of the printing-form and parallel to its axis and are both connected to the same pole of the generator. Two standards 34 are employed in connection with a pair of lifting-arms (not shown) in moving the printing-form to and from position. Zinc is the most satisfactory metal with which to 'coat the base in making the printing-form. Prac- IOO IIO

tice in carrying out this invention has demonstrated that this met-al maybe deposited upon the base in a uniform predetermined thickness, so that the composite printingform when completed will exactly meet the requirements as to size and shape which adapt the printing-form to iit accurately in its working position in the transfer-press and in the printing-press constructed to receive it, so that it maybe brought at once, with out special adjustment, into exact predetermined relationship with the coperating parts of such presses. For this purpose a standard of solution, of current, of time, and of character of manipulation in the bath is established experimentally, and every base is subjected to the same treatment in accordance with this standard. In effecting the deposition of the zinc upon the base the base is slowly rotated by the mechanism described, and by means of this rotation the entire surface of the base is subjected to precisely identical conditions. Variations of density in the different horizontal or vertical strata of the electrolytic solution or variations of conductivity or of capacity for carrying the metal from the anodes to the cathode, or even variation in the anode and cathode, all may exist without producing any effect upon the uniformity of the deposited coating, either as regards its porosity or thickness, the effects of such variations being counteracted by the rotation of the cylindrical base, which subjects all parts of the exterior surface of the base equally tov the identical varying conditions of the electrolyte. The coating thus applied to the base is adherent, coherent, porous, absorbent, even and uniform, and admirably adapted to receive a dcsign imparted to it or imposed upon it and to be developed into a printing-surface for such design. Moreover, this zinc coating is more pure than the flat-rolled zinc plates heretofore used for printing, and is therefore capable of producing a product of better quality. Impurities that may exist in the zinc-plate anodes, such as if present in the printing-surface would diminish the capacity of the printing-surface for good work, sink to the bottom of the bath when freed from the anodes, and thus are eliminated from the deposited coating. For planographic printing the Zinc coating should be about two onethousandths of an inch in thickness, which, under satisfactory working conditions, takes about half an hour to be deposited. If the printing-form is to be used forrelief-printing, the coating will generally be made somewhat thicker. lVhen the base has received its coating, it is removed from the bath and thoroughly washed olf with water and quickly dried without much dripping or evaporation. This zinc coating adheres to the copper base, so as to be integral therewith, and yet may be quickly and completely removed by washin g with dilute nitric acid and rubbing with powdered pumice-stone without removing any part of the base. In this way, when it is desired to remove the design of a printing-surface after it has finished its work in printing, the entire zine coating is removed and a fresh coating is applied, which will preferably be identical in thickness with the one removed and which, because of the permanent and unchanged size and shape of the base, will enable the printing-form,with its fresh coating, to iit and work in identically the same place as before. Thus a printing-form may be used over and over indefinitely and with a fresh coating and a new design whenever desired, but remaining always identical in working shape and size, and thus enabling the predetermined and precise relationship of the printing-form and its cooperating parts in the transfer and printing presses to be reliably and accurately maintained.

Referring now to the second division, I impose upon the finished printing-forms the designs to be finally printed in predetermined positions, both longitudinally and transversely or circumferentially, by the aid of fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said designs in accurate register, and thereby transform said printingforms into registering printing-surfaces. I will now proceed to describe suitable means preferably employed by me for carrying out this part of the procedure.

ln transforming the printing-form into a printing-surface a design is imposed upon the printing-form, generally by aid of a transferpress and preferably byaid of a transfer-press such as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which will now be described. The printing-forms l, removably mounted on the support 3, which is carried by the shaft 13, have already been described in connection with Figs. l, 2, and 3. They are shown in Fig. G in their proper position in the transfer-press. The shaft 13 is supported in boxes 35, adapted to slide in vertical recesses in the frame of the press and carried by the arms 36,Y operatively connected with the shaft 37 by cams 38. The shaft 37 is operated by the lever 39. 40 is a reciprocating bed carrying a nut 4l, in which rotates the screw-shaft 42, fixed on which is a gea-r 43, which is driven by a gear 44. The driving-shaft 45 carries two gears 46, which may be thrown by the arm 47, operating the clutch 48, into or out of mesh with the gear 40, on opposite sides thereof. The gears 49 and al turn together. Thus the driving-shaft a5 may drive the bed forward and backward, the bed sliding and being guided in accurately-made slideways. The bed 40 is provided with permanently-fixed plates 50 and 5l at the rear and on one side, against which as abutments the setting-up plate is forced by the screws 52 and 53, carried on one side and at the front of the bed. The setting-up plate 5l, a permanent, fiat, rigid body of suitable material, such as zinc, is placed and shaped so as to fit accurately on the bed and against the abutments 50 and 51 and be firmly IOO IIO

held in place by the screws 52 and 53 and so that the setting-up plate may repeatedly and reliably be made to occupy exactly the same place or seat on the bed which is thus provided to receive it, the abutments 50 and 5l thus constituting guiding means whereby the setting-up plate may be always located in the same predetermined position on the bed. The bed carries on one side a rack 55, having a marked recess 56. The shaft 13 carries a gear 57, having a marked tooth 58, adapted to t accurately in the recess 56 of the rack. The designs having been located accurately with care upon the setting-up plate by aid of suitable guide -marks or otherwise and as vusually practiced in lithographie transferring, and the basic surface thereby formed having been accurately seated in its predetermined position by the aid of the guideplates, the turning over of the designs from the basic surface upon the printing-form then proceeds. The printing-form is lowered by the arms 37 upon the basic surface always to the same point, the marked tooth 58 of the gear 57 being also carefully entered in the marked recess 56 of the rack 55, and, the requisite pressure being exerted by the arms 36, the bed 40 is moved along beneath the printing-form, which is caused to rotate thereon, and by the rolling contact thus effected the design is turned over upon the printingform. The printing-form is caused to rotate to this end by frictional contact with the basic surface rather than by the meshing of the gear-wheel 57 with the rack 55, as the ,gear and rack are concerned rather in giving a fixed starting-point, always the same, for the design-transferring contact of the basic surface and printing-form, circumferentially of the printing-form, the marked tooth of the gear and the marked recess of the rack being the only essential parts of the gear and rack, respectively, and constituting fixed guiding means, whereby the basic surface and the printing-form, in conjunction with the positive supports for each, are brought into a precise predetermined cooperating relationship in the transfer-press. To insure the printing-form and its coacting basic surface and successive printing-forms and their coacting basic surfaces always beginning their contact at precisely the same starting-point, this marked tooth and marked recess are employed, thus insuring the attainment of the predetermined relationship desired. The transfer-press shown in Fig. 5 is provided with an inking-frame 59, carrying inkingrollers and centered on the shaft of a main ink-distributing roller 60, which is driven by the shaft 6l, gearing with the shaft 62. The frame 59 is swung to and fro by the handwheel 63, which turns the gear 64C, meshing with teeth cut on the frame 59. The transferpress is also provided with a swinging damping-frame 65, carrying damping-rollers, and swung to and fro by the hand-Wheel 66, which turns a gear-wheel 67, meshing with teeth cut on the frame 65. The inking and damping rollers are used for rolling up the printingform in the process of developing it into a printing-surface. If desired, however, the printing-form may be rolled up and developed apart from the transfer-press. In removing the printing-form from the transferpress it is generally slipped off from its support without removing the support from the press. The development of the printing-surface may be effected by light etching, so as to make ita permanent planographic-printing surface, or it may be effected by deep etching, so as to make it a permanent relief-printing surface, or it may be developed in any suit'- able manner and may be routed out5if desired.

In the transformation of the printing-form into a printing-surface, as above described, many departuresfrorn the methods heretofore in use are involved. First and most important, the design has been located upon the printing-form in an exact predetermined position and with reference to the use of the printing-surface as a registering printingsurface in the printing operation. This has been effected and made possible by the employment of guiding means,whereby the basic surface (consisting ofthe settin g-up plate and the designs thereon in the specific transferpress described) and the lprinting-form are brought into a predetermined cooperating relationship with reference to register. It has also been effected in the case of the specific basic surface described by the guiding means, whereby the setting-up plate is located in an exact predetermined position on its bed. A series of printingsurfaces bearing component designs may all be made in the same way, each basic surface and its cooperating printing-form being brought into the exact predetermined cooperating relation required and at once and without delicate adjustment by the use of the guiding means, so that this series of printing-surfaces will be registering printing-surfaces constructed not only to fit in prestablished places in the transfer-press, but also constructed to fit accurately in preestablished places in the printing-press tted to receive them, so that they will automatically print in register in such press. The basic surface itself may be made in any manner so long as it is capable of imparting by contact to the printing-form thedesign to be final-ly printed. Again, the imposition of the designs upon the printing-forms has been effected by rolling contact, (instead of by the contact of one surface upon another under the pressure of a scraper,) the printing-form rotating in bearings which are fixed.

It is often of importance to be able to make interchangeable duplicate printing-surfaces either to take the place of those worn out in printing a job or where the job is of such magnitude as to require the simultaneous employment of duplicate printing-surfaces. This invention contemplates a method of making such duplicate printing surfaces IOO IOS

IIO

each from a previously-prepared printingsurface,whereby the careful and skilful hand- Work required in preparing the original basic surface is eliminated as regards each duplicate printing-surface. In carrying out this part of the invention a permanent printingsurface, which maybe termed the primary printing-surface, is prepared in any suitable manner, so as to be capable of printing, and may be and preferably is prepared by the aid of an original basic surface, as already described. The primary printing-surface is then brought into proper relation with a printing-form, Which may be called the secondary printing-form, and the design of the former is imparted to the latter either by direct contact therewith or through the intermediation of a suitable positive-related conveying-surface, and the secondary printing-form is then developed into a printingsurface Which may be then termed the secondaryprinting-surface. As many of these secondary surfaces may be made as desired, all having their designs identically placed thereon and all being identical in size and shape, so as to be interchangeable with each other. Thus from a series of registering primary printing-surfaces a series or a plurality of series of registering secondary surfaces may be made. In carrying out this operation, so as to produce registering secondary printing-surfaces or so as to produce a seeondary printing-surface which Will be a duplicate of the primary printing-surface, preestablished permanent seats for such surfaces and for the conveying-surfaces are provided in a machine in which said surfaces accurately t, and guiding means are employed whereby these surfaces may be brought into predetermined cooperating relationship for the purpose of attaining the predetermined location of the design on the secondary printing-surface required in order that it may automatically register in printing.

In Fig. 7 a primary printing-surface, a conveying-surface, and a secondary printingform are shown in position such as they would occupy ina suitable machine. The printingform l, already developed into a printing-surface, as described, is now the primary printing-surface. It is removably mounted on a supporting-cylinder G8, identical With the supporting-cylinder 3, heretofore described, and is located and locked thereon in a predetermined position by the guiding means identical With those described with reference to Figs. l and 2. (39 is the secondary printing-form to be transformed into the secondary printing-surface identical and interchangeable with the printing-surface l. It is identical in size, shape, and character of material with the printing-surface l and is identically mounted upon a supporting-cylinder 70, identical with the cylinder 68. 7l is a drum carrying a conveying-surface 72, preferably made of rubber and permanently attached to said drum. The cylinders 68 and G9 and the drum 7l are respectively provided With fixed gear-Wheels 73, 74, and 75. A tooth and arecess of the gears 7 3 and 7 5 are marked so that one fits accurately in the other when the printing-surface and the conveying-surface are brought into operating contact, and a tooth and recess of the gears 74; and 75 are marked so that one may accurately fit in the other when the secondary printing-form 69 and the conveyingsurface are brought into operating contact. These marked teeth and recesses constitute guiding means whereby the primary printing-surface and the conveying-surface and the secondary printing-form maybebroughtaccuratelyintopredetermined relationship with reference to the required location of the design to be imparted to the secondary printing-form, so as to make it a registering printing-surface. 'Vhen the primary printing-surface, suitably inked, and the conveying-surface are brought into firm contact and caused to roll the one against the other, an impression is imparted from the former to the latter. The conveying-surface and the secondary printing-form are then brought into firm contact and the impression on the former is imparted to the latter. The secondary printing-form is then suitably developed into a printing-surface for that design and is identical and interchangeable with the primary printing surface. The gear- Wheels 73, 74, and 75 are not employed for the purpose of communicating motion from one surface to the other, but rather because, taken in conjunction with the positive lateral supports, they are convenient in providing by their marked teeth and recesses the guiding means required, as already described. Motion is conveyed from one surface to the other by the friction engendered by the firm contact of these surfaces, the one with another, as described. It will be observed that the conveying-surface 72 inits relation to the secondary printing-form 74 is a basic surface. Instead of fixing the conveying-surface upon a rotary drum, as described, it may be fixed upon a reciprocating bed.

Referring now to the third division of procedure, I arrange the said printing-forms, with the designs imposed upon them,in their prestablished seats in a printing-press and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, suitably-fixed guiding means being employed to enable this predetermined relationship to be at once attained both longitudinally and transversely or circumferentially and Without the usual empiric adjustment. I am thereby enabled to print from said printing-surfaces in accurate register and in approximately instantaneous succession. I will now proceed to describe suitable means preferably employed by me for carrying out this part of my invention'.

When a series of registering printing-surfaces have been completed, they are then IOO IIO

IZO

ceases t ready to be used in printing. For this purpose a printing-press is provided which may be of any suitable construction-for exam* ple, such as that shown in Fig. S-having therein prestablished seat-s for the series of printing-surfaces, so that When the printingsurfaces are mounted therein they may print at once in accurate register, guiding means being employed for the purpose of bringing each printing-surface at once into the required and exact predetermined relation to the other printing-surfaces.

The press shown in Fig. Sis a sixteen-color press, and it is constructed and-designed to print in rapid succession sixteen registered component impressions in as many colors and on the Web. 76 is the impression-drum, having a uniformly elastic and resistant surface and carried on a shaft centered in bearings in the main frame 77. This drum carries a gear 7 8, which meshes With identical gears 79, carried with the sixteen su pport-ing-cylinders 80, which are supported to rotate in fixed bearings provided in the main frame and surrounding the impression drum. The supporting-cylinders 80 are identical in size and shape with each other and are all preferably identical with the form-cylinder 3. in Figs. 1 and 2.) They all carry removable cylindrical printing-surfaces 1 81 82, &c., Which bear registering component designs and Which are designed and adapted to `register in printing. The supporting-cylinders 8O are each fixed to shafts 83, supported in sliding boxes 84, fitting in recesses in the main frame. Each pair of boxes S1 is provided With a pair of arms 85, one on each side of the press and which have their outer ends connected to the boxes and their inner ends connected for reciprocating movement by suitable means With an annular plate 86, bolted to an arm 87, turning on the hub of the shaft of the impression-drum. This arm is operated by suitable means, and when turned in one direction the radial arms for all the printing-surfaces are moved outward, s0 as to carry the printing-surfaces out of contact with the impression-surface, and when the arm 87 is turned in theopposite direction the printing-surfaces are all brought into coMntact With the impression-surface. Each printingsurface is provided with inking and damping frames carrying inking and damping rollers, respectively, as shown. 88 is the roll of pa- .per which constitutes the Web impression-surface and which is fed around the impressiondrum, so as to receive the impressions of theprinting-surfaces each in turn and in rapid succession and in accurate automatic register. For'the purpose of attaining this register accurately and at once each gear79 has a marked tooth designed and adapted to enter a marked recess of the gear 78 when that marked recess reaches it in the original adjusting revolution of the drum, this With the positive seating of the printing-surfaces constituting the guiding means for bringing the (Showny printing surfaces into the required exact predetermined relation with respect to each other. I

Referring now Fig. 9, the supporting-cylinders 68 and 70 are carried on shafts 87- and 88, mounted in sliding boxes 89, arranged to move in the slideways 90, formed in the frame of the machine, whereby the printing-surface 1 and the printing-form 69 on said supporting-cylinders may be moved into and out of contact with the conveying-surface 7 2 on the drum 71. The printing-form 69 is provided with a vertically-moving inking-frame 90, arranged by suitable mechanism actuated by rthe hand-Wheel 91 to be moved to and from the printing-form, so that the printing-form may be rolled up in the machine after it has received its impression from the conveyingsurface. The printing-form 69 is also provided With a vertical-moving damping-frame actuated by the hand-Wheel 92. The printring-surface 1 is provided With inking and damping frames 93 and 94, respectively, similar to those employed in connection with the printing-form 69. 95 is a lever having at its inner end a segmental rackengaging a rack 96, fixed on a shaft 97, Which carries cams 98, engaging levers 99, pivoted on opposite sides of the machine. The upper ends of these 1evers carry arms 100, which engage the ends of the shaft SS. The operation of the arm 95 moves the shaft SS'aud With it the supporting-cylinders and supporting-frame carried thereon. Similar means are provided for moving the shaft S7 and the supporting and printing-surface carried thereby. 101 is a pulley on the drivingshaft,whereby the drum 71 is driven and with it the printing-surfaces 73 or the printing-form 69 when either of these is in contact with the conveying-surface.

In the practical use of this invention much of the Work Will be done with printing-surfaces Which are g11aduated-that is to say, the printing-surfaces will be so prepared as to make impressions in which the ink will be distributed in graduated quantities for light and shade effects, depth of color, &c. These graduated printing-surfaces will be employed in nearly all cases where pictures are to be printed, and the designs on the printing-surfaces Will generally be prepared so as to print overlapping impressions.

While the various marked advantages of this invention will be especially available in rotaryprinting, yet it is to be noted that certain advantages of the invention may bev availed of in connection with flat print-ingsurfaces and a reciprocating printing-press, so that the invention is not to be restricted in all cases to rotary printing.

The electrolytic bath apparatus shown in Fig. 4c is the subject of a special application iiled by me on January 13, 1897, Serial No. 619,011, and the same is not herein claimed alone and separately considered.

The transfer-press shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is the subject of special applications iiled by me IOO ' printing-surfaces; arranging said printingon January 23, 1899, Serial No. 703,082, and l on October 4, 1899, Serial No. 732,437, and the same is not herein claimed alone and separately considered.

The transfer-press shown in Figs. 7 and 9 is the subject of special applications filed, respectively, by me October 4, 1899, Serial Nos. 732,439 and 732,440, and January 5, 1899, Serial No. 701,192, and the same is not herein claimed alone and separately considered.

The printing-press shown in Fig. 8 is the subject to a special application filed by me on June 1, 1896, Serial No. 593,796, and the same is not herein claimed alone and separately considered.

In alluding to the positions of the printingforms on their respective supports and to their cooperating relation and to the coperating relation of the conveying-surface I usc the terms longitudinally and transversely as referring to the two directions at right angles to each other over said bodies, whether either or both of these bodies is ilat or curved. If the body is curved, longitudinal would refer to axial direction and transverse to circumferential direct-ion.

The method of electrolytically depositing the coating upon the base shown and described herein with reference to the electrolytic bath is not herein separately claimed, such method being made the subject of a separate application executed and iiled by me simultaneously herewith.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of metallic bases for printing-forms, said printing-forms being made of a predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately tit in prestablished seats in a printing-press, and ,work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; applying to each base by electrodeposition a metallic coating of suitable thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form; imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and transversely by the aid of xed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering surfaces in their predetermined positions on their form -supports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, iixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinallyand transversely and without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register.

2. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved shell-like metallic bases for prin ting-forms and also a series of rotary formsupports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately fit removably and replaceably one upon another in predetermined relationship both longitudinally and transversely, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in preestablished seats in aprinting-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted to lit and work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in an electrolytic bath thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic metallic coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form; imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudi- -nally and transversely by the aid of fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said component designsin accurate register, and thereby transforming said printingforms into registering printing-surfaces; arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions on their form-supports, cach support being mounted in its preestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, Fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and transversely and without the usual empiric adjustment.

3. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved shell-like metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary formsupports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately it one upon another, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in prestablished seats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted to fit and work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printingpress; revolving each base in an electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic metallic coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form; imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid of fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-'forms into registering printingsurfaces.

IOO

IZO

4. Thel improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved shell-like metallic printingforms having planographic surfaces suitable to receive designs and to be developed into printing-surfaces therefor, and also a series of rotary form-supports for said printingforms, said forms and form-supportsl being made of a predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately fit one upon another, and so that the form-supports are adapted toaccuratelyfit in prestablished seats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted'to iit and work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printingpress, imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally' and circu mferentially by the aid of fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printing-surfaces; arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions on their form-supports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and circumferentially and without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printingsurfaces in accurate register.

5. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved shell-like metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and formsupports being made of a permanent predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately fit one upon another, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in pre'e'stablished seats in a printing-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on theirform-supports are adapted to fit and work accurately with the coperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in an electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic metalliccoating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printingform, and the coating being removable from the base and renewable thereon without substantially affecting the predetermined percu rate register,and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printing-surfaces; arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions on their formsupports, each support being mounted in its preestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and transversely and without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register.

6. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved metallic bases for printingforms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a `permanent predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately fit removably and replaceably one upon another in predetermined relationship both longitudinally and circumferentially, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately it in prestablished seats in a rotary printingpress, and 4so that the printing-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted to fit and work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in an electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic metallic coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printingform; imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by thevaid of fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printing-surfaces arranging said printing-surfaces-in their predetermined positions on their form-supports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, Xed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and circumferentially and without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printingsurfaces in accurate register.

7. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, Which consists-in preparing a series of curved shell-like metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form- -supports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a predetermined size and Ashape to adapt them to accurately t in preestablished seats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the prin ting-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted to tit and Work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; revolving' each base in a zinc electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic metallic continuous seamless zinc coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and ICO IIO

suitable to have imposed upon it and to print adesign, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form; imposing a series of component designs' upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid of fixed guiding meansand with reference to the prin ting of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printing-surfaces; arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions on their forni-supports, each support being mounted in its preestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and circumferentially and Without the usualempiric adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register.

8. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printin g, which vconsists in preparingr a series of curved shell-like metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and formsupports being made of a predetermined size and'shape to adapt them t0 accurately Iit removably and replaceably one upon another in predetermined relationship both longitudinally and circumferential]y, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately Iitin prestablished seats in a rotary printingpress, and so that the printing-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted to fit and Work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in an electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic metallic coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to haveimposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printingform, and the coating being removable from the base and renewable thereon Without substantially affecting the predetermined size and shape of the base; imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid of fixed guiding means and With reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printingforms into registering printing-surfaces; arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions on their form-supports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and circumferentially and without the usualempiric'adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register.

9. The improvement in the art 0f multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved identical tubular metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a permanent predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately t one upon another, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in prestablished seats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted to fit and Work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in a zinc electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic continuous seamless zinc coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form; imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid of fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printingsurfaces; arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions on their formsupports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to eachother, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and circumferentially and without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register.

lO. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved identical tubular metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports there for, said bases and form-supports being made of a predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately fit one upon another, and so that the formsupports are adapted to accurately tit in preestablished seats in a printing-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on their formsupports are adapted to fit and Work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in an electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic metallic coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form, and the coating being removable from the base and renewable thereon without Substantially affecting the predetermined size and shape of the base; imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and transversely by the aid of fixed guiding means and With reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering IOO IIO

printing-surfaces; arranging said printingsurfaces in their predetermined positions on their form supports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and transversely and Without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said lprinting-surfaces in accurate register.

l1. The improvement in the-art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of printing-forms having planographic surfaces suitable to receive designs and to be developed into printing-surfaces therefor, said printing-forms being made of a predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately t in prestablished seats in a printing-press, and so that the printing-forms are adapted to fit and work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid of fixed guiding means and With reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printing surfaces; arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions on their form-supports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and transversely and Without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register.

l2. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved identical tubular metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately lit removably and replaceably one upon another in predetermined relation both longitudinally and circumferentially, and so that the form-Supports are adapted to' accurately fit in prestablished seats in a rotary printingpress, and so that the printing-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted to fit and Work accurately With the-cooperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in a zinc eiectrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic continuous, seamless zinc coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form; imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid ofthe fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printing-surfaces; arranging said printing-surfaces -in their predetermined positions on their form- 4supports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and circumferentialiy and without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register.

13. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printin g, which consists in preparing a series of curved identical tubular metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a permanent predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately lit removably and replaceably one upon anothei'in predetermined relation both longitudinally and eircumferentially,

and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in prestablished seats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the printingforms carried on their form -supports are adapted to tit and Work accurately with the cooperating parts of the'printing-press; revolving each base in an electrolytic bath and 'thereby applying to'it by electrodeposition a planographic metallic coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the baseand suitable tohave imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating 'and its base constituting the printing-form, and the coating being removable from the base and renewable thereon Without substantially affecting the predetermined permanent size and shape of the base; imposing a series of component designs tially and Without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register. t

14E. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved shell-like metallic bases for printing-forms and alsoaseries of rotaryformsupports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a predetermined size IOO IXO

`upon said printing-forms in predetermined and shape to adapt them to accurately fit, removably and replaceably, one upon another, in predetermined relationship both longitudinally and transversely, and so that the forinsupports are adapted to accurately fit in precstablished seats in a printing-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on their formsupports are adapted to iit and work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in a zinc electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic continuous, seamless zinc coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form, and the coating being removable from the base and renewable thereon without substantially affecting the predetermined size and shape of the base; imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and transversely by the aid of fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printing-surfaces; arranging said printing -surfaces in their predetermined positions on their formsupports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, ixed guiding means being ernployed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and transversely and withoutthe usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register.

15. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consist-s in preparing a series of curved identical tubular metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately tit, removably and replaceably, one upon another in predetermined relation both longitudinally and circumferentially, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in prestablished seats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted to fit and work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in a zinc electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic continuous, seamless Zinc coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form, and the coating being removable from the base and renewable thereon without substantially atfecting the predetermined size and shape ot the base; imposing a series of component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid of iixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said com ponent designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printing-surfaces; arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions on their form-supports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference .to each other, iixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and circumferentially and without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printingsurfaces in accurate registerin approximately instantaneous succession.

16. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing which consists in preparing a series of curved shell-like metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and formsupports being made ot a predetermined size and shape and having fixed mechanical guides to adapt them to accurately fit, removably and replaceably, one upon another, in predetermined relation both longitudinally and circum ferentially, and so that the form-supports are ad apt-ed to accurately t in prcstablished seats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted to fit and work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printingpress; im posing a series ot component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid ot fixed guiding means and with refcrcn ce tothe printing of said component designs in accurate register,and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printing surfaces; arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions on their form-supports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and circumferentially and without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printingsurfaces in accurate register in approximately instantaneous succession.

17. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved identical tubular metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a permanent predetermined size and shape and having lixed mechanical guides to adapt them to accurately iit, removably and replaceably, one upon anotherin predetermined relation both longitudinally and circumterentially, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in prestablished seats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the printing-forms ICO IIO

forming said printing-forms into registering printing-surfaces; arranging said printingsurfaces in their predetermined positions on their form supports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and bringing said printingsu rfaces into predetermined relationship with reference to each other, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and circumferentially and with-- out the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register in approximately instantaneous succession.

18. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of printingforms of predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately fit in prestablished seats in a printing-press, and to fit and work accurately with the coperating parts of the printing-press; preparing a series of registering basic surfaces bearing component designs and on a rigid base of predetermined size and shape adapted to fit accurately in a prestablished seat in a transfer-press; arranging each of said printingforms in turn,and supported on a rotary formsupport, in said transfer-press in an accurate predetermined relation both longitudinally and transversely with respect to its corresponding basic surface seated in said press, and by aid of fixed guiding means, imparting by rolling contact the designs of the basic surfaces to the printing-forms; suitably developing said printing-forms into printingsurfaces which Will thereupon become registering printing-surfaces for said designs and of the character desired, whether planographic, relief or intaglio, and having their designs located thereon in predetermined position for the purpose of register in printing, arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and transversely and without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register.

19. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparinga series of curved shell-like metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and formsupports being made of a permanent predeterminedsize and shape to adapt them to accurately fit one upon another, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in prestablished seats in a printing-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on vtheir form-supports are adapted to fit and Work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in an electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic metallic coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printingform; turning over a series of transfer-sheets bearing component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid of fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register; suitably developing and thereby transforming said printingforms into registering printing-surfaces of the character desired; arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions 0n their form-supports, each support being mounted in its prestablished seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to the other, fixed guiding means being employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and circumferentially and Without the usual empiric adjustment; and printing from said printingsurfaces in accurate register.

20. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparinga series of curved identical tubular metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a permanent predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately t, removably and replaceably, one upon another in predetermined relation both longitudinally and circumferentially, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in prestablished seats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the printingforms carried on their form supports are adapted to fit and work accurately with the coperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in a zinc electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic continuous, seamless zinc coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form, and the coating being removable from the base and renewable thereon without substantially affecting the predetermined permanent size and shape of the base; turning over a series of transfer-sheets'bearing component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid of fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of IOO said component designs in accurate register; suitably developing and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printing-surfaces of the character desired; arranging said printing-surfaces in their predetermined positions on their form-supports, each support being mounted in its predetermined seat in the printing-press, and in predetermined relationship with reference to each other, fixed guiding means being` employed whereby this predetermined relationship may be at once attained both longitudinally and circumferentially and Without the usual empirie adjustment; and printing from said printing-surfaces in accurate register in approximately instantaneous succession.

2l. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved shell-like metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and formsupports being niade of a predetermined sizel and shape to adapt them to accurately fit one upon another, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accu ratelyit in prestablishedseats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted to fit and Work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printingpress; revolving each base in an electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a plan ogra phic metallic coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form; imposing a series of component designs upon said printingforms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid of fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said component de- Signs in accurate register', and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printing-surfaces adapted to be mounted at once in said printing-press in registering relation, and to be employed in printing registering impressions.

22. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved identical tubular metallic bases for printing-forins and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and form-supports being made of a permanent predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately fit, removably and replaceably, one upon another in predetermined relation both longitudinally and circumferentially, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in prcstablished seats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the printingforms carried on their form supports are adapted to fit and Work accurately with the coperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in a zinc elcctrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by elcctrodeposition a planographic continuous, seamless zinc coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printing-form, and the coating being removable from the base and renewable thereon Without substantially affecting the predetermined permanent size and shape of the base; imposing a series of component designs upon said printingforms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid of fixed guiding means and With reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register, and thereby transforming said printing-forms into registering printingsurfaces adapted to be mounted at once in said printing-press in registering relation, and to be employed in printing registering impressions.

23. The improvement in the art of lnulticolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved shell-like metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and formsupports being made of a permanent predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately tit one upon another, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in preestablished seats in a rotary printingpress, and so that the printing-forms carried on their form-supports are adapted to fit and work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printing-press; revolving each base in an electrolytic bath and thereby applying to it by electrodeposition a planographic metallic coating of predetermined thickness, integral with the base and suitable to have imposed upon it and to print a design, said coating and its base constituting the printingforms; turning over a series of transfer-sheets bearing component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumferentially by the aid of fixed guiding means and with reference to the printing of said component designs in accurate register; suitably developing and thereby transforming said printingforms into registering printing-surfaces; of the character desired adapted to be mounted at once in said printing-press in registering relation, and to be employed in printing registering impressions.

24. The improvement in the art of multicolor-printing, which consists in preparing a series of curved shell-like metallic bases for printing-forms and also a series of rotary form-supports therefor, said bases and formsupports being made of a predetermined size and shape to adapt them to accurately fit one upon another, and so that the form-supports are adapted to accurately fit in prestablished seats in a rotary printing-press, and so that the printing-forms carried on their form-snpports are adapted to tit and Work accurately with the cooperating parts of the printingpress; imposingaseriesof component designs upon said printing-forms in predetermined positions both longitudinally and circumfer- IOO 

